Richard Henry Hinker was born on April 1, 1921, in Greenwood, Clark County, Wisconsin. He was the son of Edward Bernard Hinker and Frances Mary Einck Hinker. He served in the 31st Infantry Regiment as a Corporal during World War II.

After the fall of Bataan in the hands of the Japanese Army on April 9, 1942, Cpl Hinker was one of the 10,000 to 12,000 Americans who were forced to march over 60 miles under brutal conditions, resulting in 1,000 to 5,000 deaths due to starvation, dehydration, and abuse. Survivors were sent to Camp O'Donnell, where dire conditions, including overcrowding, malnutrition, and disease, caused an additional 1,500 to 2,300 American deaths within weeks. Those who survived faced ongoing hardships, including transfers to other camps and forced labor, where many continued to suffer or die.

Cpl Hinker was reported missing and officially declared dead on June 6, 1942. His name is memorialized in the Walls of the Missing in the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines. He also has a cenotaph in the Saint Marys Cemetery, Greenwood, Clark County, Wisconsin, USA.

Source of information: www.livescience.com